York City 2 Spennymoor 2 report, match stats and player ratings

Martin Gray’s team went into the contest on the back of five straight victories but could not match the achievement of Nigel Worthington’s class of 2014, who managed six on the spin.

Five years earlier, meanwhile, Martin Foyle had guided his City side to eight consecutive triumphs, emulating a club record set back in 1955/56.

Worthington and Foyle would go on to secure play-off places during those corresponding campaigns and, with table-topping Salford now a distant 16 points ahead of the fourth-placed Minstermen following their defeat of Harrogate Town, that now looks certain to be the only avenue open to Gray as he plots a swift return to the fifth tier of the English game.

This contest, therefore, provided an intriguing chance for the resurgent Minstermen to test their top-seven merits against another expected contender.

For long periods of the first half, the hosts looked superior, dictating play and looking well organised with Jonny Burn’s 11th-minute opener giving them a deserved lead going into the interval.

An injury to midfield-anchorman Simon Heslop, though, saw City lose some of their forward momentum after the restart, with Ryan Hall levelling seven minutes in.

After Aidan Connolly tapped the hosts back in front on 72 minutes, Spennymoor sub Andrew Johnson restored parity again soon afterwards and the north-east outfit might even have gone on to snatch victory at the death but for two fine saves by Adam Bartlett.

In the final analysis, there were both reasons for encouragement and causes for concern, therefore, should City need to tackle the Moors for a third time this season in May.

A confident start from the home team saw Jon Parkin head off target following a left-wing Connolly cross, before Burn celebrated his second goal in as many games.

At Telford four days earlier, Heslop left-wing corners had provided the source for two goals during the visitors’ 5-3 triumph and another such delivery picked out Sean Newton at the far post in this match.

The City skipper then headed back into the six-yard box, where Burn pounced to stab his shot into the roof of the net.

Spennymoor did not manage a shot of any description until the 16th minute when Hall got the better of Heslop close to the right byline and pulled the ball back for Mark Anderson, who scooped over from ten yards.

Moments later, Adriano Moke showed great desire to dispossess Anderson in his own half before haring into the away box and going close with a deflected 15-yard attempt.

On the half-hour mark, the impressive Shane Henry fired across the face of Bartlett’s goal after tricking his way past City debutant Connor Brown through the left channel.

But City might have doubled their lead from the next attack when Raul Correia sprung the Spennymoor offside trap to charge on to a Connolly through ball.

The on-loan Blackpool striker went on to round outrushing keeper Jordan Porter but was prevented from finding the net when his goalbound shot was blocked following brilliant cover defending by Chris Mason.

Parkin, meanwhile, could not force in a header after another left-wing Heslop corner had troubled Porter at the far post.

With the last chance of the half, though, the Moors’ 15-goal leading marksman Glen Taylor might have done better when picked out seven yards from the home goal by Kallum Griffiths’ right-wing cross, as his downward header failed to extend Bartlett.

After the break, Newton aimed a 20-yard opportunity straight at Porter after a right-wing raid by Moke, but Hall equalised when he raced on to a Henry pass through City’s exposed left channel and beat Barlett from the edge of the box with the aid of a heavy deflection.

The goal gave Spennymoor a lift with Griffiths, Hall and Joe Tait all missing the target with further opportunities.

City rallied again, though, as a scrambled Parkin attempt was deflected to safety and James Curtis almost sliced through his own goal following a dangerous, low cross by David Ferguson.

Moments later, Moke’s firm, right-wing delivery picked out Connolly at the far post and he converted from close range in front of the David Longhurst end.

Spennymoor showed great spirit, however, to fight their way back into the game for a second time and, after Griffiths had sidefooted well over from distance, Johnson netted from close range on 76 minutes.

He followed up after Taylor’s header from a right-wing Anderson corner has been cleared off the line by Brown.

Spennymoor, seeking a sixth successive success themselves, went closest to winning the match during the closing stages, with Bartlett making his latest in a string of recent outstanding saves by repelling an Anderson free kick that seemed destined for his top-left corner on 90 minutes.

The City keeper also denied Henry as he charged through the left channel after the hosts had left themselves exposed four-against-two at the back on a visiting counter-attack in the third minute of stoppage time.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 7

Connor Brown 7

Hamza Bencherif 6

Jonny Burn 7

David Ferguson 6

Simon Heslop 7

Adriano Moke 8

Aidan Connolly 7

Sean Newton 7

Raul Correia 7

Jon Parkin 6

Substitutes: Dan Parslow 6 (for Heslop, 46), Amari Morgan-Smith 6 (for Correia, 63), Josh Law (for Bencherif, 81).

Subs not used: James Gray, Luke Simpson.

Star man: Moke – great to see his quality being utilised in the final third

Spennymoor: Jordan Porter, Kallum Griffiths, Joe Tait, James Curtis, Chris Mason, Ryan Hall, Rob Ramshaw, Shane Henry, David Foley (Andrew Johnson, 44), Glen Taylor, Mark Anderson.. Subs not used: Matty Dixon, Shane Bland, Chris Chantler, Bradley Fewster.

Spennymoor star man: Henry – good quality and forward surges

Referee: Martin Woods rating: 7/10 sensible with cards

Booked: Heslop 40, Tait 43, Ferguson 45+1, Brown 68

Sent off: None

Attendance: 2,976 (448 from Spennymoor)

Shots on target: City 4, Spennymoor 5

Shots off target: City 4, Spennymoor 7

Corners: City 9, Spennymoor 10

Fouls conceded: City 12, Spennymoor 2

Offside: City 4, Spennymoor 2